Civilian labor force strengthens in July

NEWPORT — The number of people looking for work in Lincoln County jumped last month, as the prospect of finding a job brightened in the period.

As a result, the unemployment rate in the region slipped to 7.5 percent in July from 8.2 percent in July 2013, the Oregon Employment Department said Monday.

The latest reading marked the 44th straight month the labor gauge fell from the same period a year earlier, and was the lowest for July since 2008 when the jobless rate measured 6.7 percent.

The downturn in the regional unemployment rate was notable, largely because it came amid a strong addition to the civilian labor force, which surged to 20,897 in July. That was the highest reading in a year, and suggests job hunters sensed opportunity in the marketplace.

“As jobs become more plentiful, more people will pop-up and say, ‘Yeah. I’m willing to work for that.’ We’ll see how long that lasts,” said Will Summers, a workforce analyst with the employment department.